Method and apparatus for forming glass filaments

Abstract

Method and apparatus for forming glass filaments are provided by (a) a plurality of spaced apart forming sections wherein each section is comprised of (i) a feeder adapted to supply a plurality of streams of glass to be attenuated into continuous filaments, a zone being defined by the paths of the free-falling streams, (ii) applicator means laterally spaced from said zone adapted to apply a coating to the advancing filaments, (iii) first guide means laterally spaced from said zone adapted to gather the filaments into a strand, the guide means and applicator being positioned such that the coating is applied to the filaments at a region external to said zone and intermediate the feeder and the first guide means along the path of advancement of the filaments, (iv) secondary attenuation means laterally spaced from the zone adapted to advance the filaments as waste, (b) a single primary attenuation means adapted to simultaneously attenuate the streams from each section into filaments; and (c) second guide means positioned to advance the strands from each section external to all of said zones when the strands are being advanced by the primary attenuation means, said feeders, applicator means, first guide means and second guide means being positioned such that any of said strands are advanced along paths external to all of said zones and in the absence of contact with any other of said strands when any of the waste strands are advanced by the secondary attenuation means.

We claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for forming glass filaments comprising: (a) a plurality of spaced apart forming sections wherein each section is comprised of; (i) a feeder adapted to supply a plurality of streams of glass to be attenuated into continuous filaments, a zone being defined by the paths of the free falling streams;   (ii) applicator means laterally spaced from said zone adapted to apply a coating to the advancing filaments;   (iii) first guide means laterally spaced from said zone adapted to gather the filaments into a strand, the guide means and applicator means being positioned such that the coating is applied to the filaments external to said zone and intermediate the feeder and the first guide means along the path of advancement of the filaments; and   (iv) secondary attenuation means laterally spaced from the zone adapted to advance said filaments as waste;     (b) a primary attenuation means adapted to simultaneously attenuate the streams from each section into filaments; and   (c) second guide means positioned to advance the strands from each section external to said zones as the strands are advanced by the primary attenuation means; said feeders, applicator means, first guide means and second guide means being positioned such that said strands and waste are advanced along spaced apart paths external to all of said zones when advanced by the secondary attenation means.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus for forming glass filaments comprising: a. a plurality of spaced apart feeders adapted to supply a plurality of streams of glass, a plurality of zones being defined by the free falling streams of glass;   b. first guide means external to said zones adapted to gather the filaments into strands;   c. applicator means laterally spaced from said zones positioned to apply a coating to said filaments external to said zones along the path of advancement of the filaments between said feeders and said first guide means;   d. a primary attenuation means adapted to simultaneously attenuate said streams into continuous filaments; and   e. secondary attenuation means adapted to advance filaments as waste external to said zones and such that said waste does not contact any advancing strand; said feeders, first guide means, applicator means, primary attenuation means, and secondary attenuation means being positioned to advance the strands external to all of said zones such that free falling streams from any feeder do not engage the filaments and/or strands from any other feeder being attenuated by the primary attenuation means or secondary attenuation means.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein said applicator, first guide means, and secondary attenuation means are laterally spaced to the same side of said zone associated therewith. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the applicator, first guide means, and secondary attenuation means are located on the side of the zone associated therewith opposite the side of the zone normally occupied by an operator. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein the second guide means is positioned to advance the strands along spaced apart paths until said strands substantially reach the second the second guide means. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein the primary attenuation means is adapted to cut the continuous strands into discrete segments. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein the secondary attenuation means is positioned to advance the waste in contact with the applicator and first guide means associated therewith. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein said feeders are located in a first, common vertical plane and said applicator means are located in a second, common vertical plane laterally spaced from said first plane. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the secondary attenuation means is located in a plane between said zones and said first guide means. 
     
     
       10. Method of forming glass filaments comprising: (a) establishing a plurality of forming operations wherein each forming operation is comprised of; (i) supplying a plurality of streams of glass to be attenuated into continuous filaments, the paths of the free falling streams defining a zone;   (ii) positioning the filaments advancing from the feeder external to the zone;   (iii) gathering the filaments into a strand by a first guide means external to said zone;   (iv) positioning an applicator means external to the zone;   (v) applying a coating to the filaments at a region external to the zone at said applicator means, said region being along the path of advancement of the filaments intermediate the streams and the point of gathering the filaments into a strand; and   (vi) positioning a secondary attenuation means external to the zone to attenuate the streams into filaments and advance the filaments as waste;     (b) providing a primary attenuation means adapted to simultaneously attenuate the streams from the feeders into filaments; and   (c) positioning the feeders, applicator means, first guide means, and secondary attenuation means such that all of the advancing strands are moved along paths external to such zones and in the absence of contact between the waste and any other of said strands.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 wherein all of said feeders are located in a first common vertical plane and said applicators, first guide means, and secondary attenuation means are laterally spaced to the same side of said zones. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 further comprising positioning a second guide means in a horizontal plane below the horizontal plane of the first guide means to maintain the strands in a spaced apart relationship until said strands one gathered together in a bundle at said second guide means. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12 further comprising chopping the continuous strands into discrete segments. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein said primary attenuation means is adapted to attenuate the streams into filaments and cut the continuous filaments into discrete segments, said primary attenuation means having a drive means; and further comprising recepticle means having a first collection zone and a second collection zone spaced from said first zone to receive the discrete segments; and   control means adapted (a) to control the speed of said drive means to operate said primary attenuation means at a first speed or a second speed slower than the first speed, and (b) to direct the discrete segments to the first zone when said primary attenuation means is operated at the first speed and direct the discrete segments to the second zone when said primary attenuation means is operated at said second speed.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said control means is adapted to reduce the speed of the primary attenuation means for a predetermined length of time before energizing the primary attenuation means to operate at said first speed. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said control means includes a movable element pivoted at one end at a wall separating the first and second zone adapted to direct said discrete segments to said first zone or said second zone. 
     
     
       17. The method of claims 10 or 12 comprising: cutting the continuous filaments into discrete segments by said primary attenuation means;   positioning a delivery means having a first collection zone and a second collection zone spaced from the first zone to receive said discrete segments;   controlling said primary attenuation means to operate at a first speed or a second speed slower than the first speed;   directing the discrete segments to said first zone when said primary attenuation means is operated at said first speed and to said second zone when said primary attenuation means is operated at said second speed.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 wherein the speed of the primary attenuation means is controlled to reduce the speed of said primary attenuation means from the first speed to the second speed for a predetermined length of time before returning to the first speed upon activitation of said control means.